Top label surprinting



July 10, 1962 R. G. SHEPHERD, JR 3,043,732

TOP LABEL SURPRINTING Filed Jan. 2, 1957 4 4 4 f //////V A 6 \J I''w? lN, um f YI@ d, j

United States Patent O* 3,043,732 TGP LABEL SURPRINTING Ridgley G.Shepherd, Jr., Weston, Mass., assignor to Dennison ManufacturingCompany, Framingham, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 2,1957, Ser. No. 632,235 6 Claims. (Cl. 156-230) This invention relates totransfers and particularly to a method of legibly surprinting overprinting in top label transfers and transfers made by such method.Usually the first printing is in the for-m of a design or lettering orboth but sometimes it is solid coloring. Usually the surprinting isapplied directly over the first printing but sometimes there is anintermediate layer of adhesive or the like.

Transfer labels are often used for application of a design from atemporary carrier to a receiving surface. In many packaging operationsit is desired to add over an Y existing label later or last minuteinformation such as prices, dates, contents, numbers, etc. These indiciaare most advantageously added to the top of the transfer before beingapplied to the receiving surface. Where the transferred label is affixedto the underside of a transparent material such that the layers of thetransfer are viewed in the same order as they were placed on thetemporary carrier no problem exists as to ligibility. However, where thetransfers (herein called top label transfers) are applied to the face orouter side of a receiving surface the layers will be reversed in viewingorder from the order in which they were placed on the backing. In thissituation it has not been heretofore possible to add additionalinformation with conventional transfer inks over the top of opaqueprinting since this information will be covered by the opaque printingwhen the layers are reversed and attached to the receiving surface.

It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to provide amethod whereby additional data may be legibly surprinted over printedtop label transfers so that the data is visible through the printingeven though the printing is more or less opaque.

Legible surprinting according to the present invention is provided bysurprinting the transfer with `an ink comprising a substantially waterinsoluble dye dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent. These inks, unlike theconventional transfer printing inks which are insoluble pigments in acarrier vehicle, will strike or diffuse through an opaque label andbecome legible therethrough. Legibility is further improved bytransferring the label while the surprinting ink is still wet.

This invention may be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a transfer surprintingaccording to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on. line 2-2 of FIG. l; and l l FIG. 3 is anisometric view of the transfer of FIG. l applied to the face of areceiving surface with the backing layers partially removed.

Referring to the drawing, the illustrated transfer comprises a backingor temporary `carrier 1 such as, for example, paper, a release coating 2such as wax, an opaque transferable label 3, and an after-added surprint4. As best illustrated in FIG` 2, the surprint 4 is diffused throughrhe1abe1 s.

In use the transfer is placed with the outer face 5 of the label 3against the outer face of a receiving surface 6 and the label adhered tothe surface 6 by the application of heat and pressure. The layers 1 and2 over the label are then stripped away leaving the label exposed on thesurface 6. This stripping away is facilitated by the reresins, etc., ormixtures of these materials.

3,043,732 Patented July 1o, 1962 Iice lease layer 2 which, in thetransfer as illustrated, melts or is softened by heat. It should benoted that the label 3 is reversed after transfer so that the surface 5,which is outermost on the transfer backing, is next to the receivingsurface 6 after transfer, and the surprint 4 would be hidden therebywere it not diffused through the design 3.

The label 3 may comprise a single layer or a plurality of layers and maybe continuous or discontinuous. 'Ihese labels or designs are usuallyopaque, thermoplastic or drying oil compositions with pigments, that is,insoluble coloring matter, incorporated therein.

Examples are pigments in a vehicle comprising polyvinyl acetate,cellulose esters and ethers, polyalkyl acrylates and methacrylates,vinyl chloride polymers, chlorinated rubber, synthetic rubber polymers,polyethylene, drying oils such as linseed oil, synthetic varnishes,alkyd These label coatings usually vary from .0l to 1.0 mils inthickness.

Transfer inks heretofore used, such as letterpress and rotogravure inkswhich comprise insoluble pigments such as phthalocyanine blue, toluidinered, titanium dioxide, carbon black and the like suspended in a vehicle,cannot be used to surprint top-label transfer before transfer sincethese inks will not diffuse through existing designs and would becovered after transfer by the label 3.

However it has been discovered that if, instead of the usualpigment-vehicle ink, special inks which comprise a dye or dyes dissolvedin aI non-aqueous solvent are used .for surprinting before transfer, thedye-solvent ink will diifuse through label 3 and -be legible when thelabel is reversed during transfer. While a lsubstantially waterinsoluble dye and `a non-aqueous solvent are necessary for thisinvention, some water can also be tolerated in addition to dye solventif it is thoroughly dispersed. Such solvents can, however, be used ifthe printing medium (such as a rubber stamp) is not'left in contact withthe first printing too long. These surprinting inks have been foundeffective to surprint all top-labels tested except transfers whichembody labels having very dense, leafed, powder-metal inks incorporatedtherein. Common types of .ing ink concentration and reservoir supplies.Solvents which evaporate 'at rates (parts by volume) higher than butylacetate derived from fusel oil are not, for this reason, recommended.For the purpose of this invention, wax is considered to be `a solventfor oil soluble dyes if the Wax melts `and becomes liquid at thetransfer tempertature used such that the liquid wax and dye strikethrough the label during transfer. A wax-dye surprint `can also beprinted with the wax melted 4to facilitate transfer. Surprinting inksshould, of course, be of a different color from the label over whichthey are printed in order to be legible. f

In addition'to the above disclosed special inks, it has been discoveredthat if the surprinted transfers are transferred while the surprintingink is still wet, the ink is assisted in striking (diffusing) throughthe label to become legible therethrough. While this step isadvantageous it `is not normally required unless a normally solidsolvent is utilized.

As a specific example of the practice of this invention, ten grams ofCalco Aviation Oil Blue dye are dissolved in 100 grams of a solventmixture composed of 25 parts by weight of acetophenone and 75 parts byweight of phenyl methyl carbinol. This solution is filtered and thenimpregnated into -a stamp pad. Indica is then surprinted from this padby use of a rubber stamp on an opaque top label transfer and immediatelytransferred to moistureproof, heat-scalable cellophane. The ink strikesthrough the first printing and is highly legible on the nonprinted sideof the transfer label after the backing is stripped off. v

While this invention has been illustrated with a heat transfer having abacking, a release coating, land a label, it is obvious that it can beused Wi-th other transfers. Since the layersunderlying the label are tobe stripped away after transfer the presence of other or additionalunderlying layers isimmaterial. Also additional permeable layers such1as pressure-sensitive or heat-responsive adhesives may overlie thelabel and the surprinting will strike-through these layers as well lasthe label. Thus the invention is applicable to most forms ofpressuresensitive, water-soluble decals, and heat-responsive transfersWhere the l-abel therein is reversed after transfer.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that the invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which Afall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A top label transfer comprising a temporary backing, a transferablecoating of op-aque thermoplastic resin, containing non-metallic pigmentink on the face f said backing, the coating being soluble in anon-aqueous solvent, and surprinting of additional indicia over saidcoating, the surprinting comprising la substantially Waterinsoluble dyesoluble ina non-aqueous solvent for said coating, said sur-printingbeing diffused through said coating so as to be visible on the oppositeside ofthe coating when the vcoating is transferred and the backing isremoved.

2. A top label ,transfer `according to claim l wherein said dye isdissolved in wax which melts during transfer.

3. A top label transfer according to claim 1 wherein said backingcomprises a release coating under the transferable coating.

4. In the art `of top label transfers having a temporary backing, themethod which comprises applying to the face of a backing a transferableopaque thermoplastic resin coating containing non-metallic pigment ink,said resin coating being dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent, drying thecoating, and surprinting over the coating with waterin-soluble dyedissolved in a non-aqueous solvent for said coating so that thesurprinted dye diffuses through the coating and is visible on theopposite side of the coating when the coating is transferred and thebacking is removed.

5. In the art of top label transfers having a temporary backing, themethod which comprises applying to the face ,of a backing a transferableopaque thermoplastic resin coating containing non-metallic pigment ink,said resin coating being dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent, drying thecoating, surprinting additional material over the coating, transferringthe coating, and removing the backing, said additional material beingprinted with water-insoluble dye dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent inwhich said coating is soluble, whereby the dye diffuses through thecoating and the surprinting is visible when the coating is transferredand the backing is removed.

6. The method according to claim 5 further characterized in that thetransfer is eected with heat and pressure while the dye is still wet toassist it in striking through the coating.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS702,350 Howard June 10, 1902 714,485 Howard Nov. 25, 1902 1,714,265Gui-wick May 21, 1929 1,714,503 Gorham May 28, 19,29' 1,847,390 FinnMar. 1, 1932 1,891,323 Eisenberg Dec. 20, 1932 2,185,983 Humphner Jan.2, 1940 2,571,962 Smith et al Oct. 16, 1951 2,578,150 Ratlrke Dec. 11,1951 2,627,485 Smith Feb. 3, 1953 2,635,974 Terry Apr.'21, 19532,688,579 Meyer Sept. 7, 1954 2,724,674 Pritikin Nov. `22, 19552,746,893 Matthes May 22, 1956 2,783,172 Avery Feb. 26, 1957 2,784,133Grupe Mar. 5, 1957 2,810,673 Wooldrik Oct. 22, 1957 2,811,475 Edge Oct.29, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Printing Inks, Ellis, Reinhold Publishing Co.,April 15, 1942, pp. 312, 353-4.

4. IN THE ART OF TOP LABEL TRANSFERS HAVING A TEMPORARY BACKING, THEMETHOD WHICH COMPRISES APPLYING TO THE FACE OF A BACKING A TRANSFERABLEOPAQUE THERMOPLASTIC RESIN COATING CONTAINING NON-METALLIC PIGMENT INK,SAID RESIN COATING BEING DISSOLVED IN A NON-AQUEOUS SOLVENT, DRYING THECOATING, AND SURPRINTING OVER THE COATING WITH WATERINSOLUBLE DYEDISSOLVED IN A NON-AQUEOUS SOLVENT FOR SAID COATING SO THAT THESURPRINTED DYE DIFFUSES THROUGH THE COATING AND IS VISIBLE ON THEOPPOSITE SIDE OF THE COATING WHEN THE COATING IS TRANSFERRED AND THEBACKING IS REMOVED.